Apparatus for cutting foodstuffs



H. 1.. JOHNSTON 1,709,912

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FOOD STUFFS April 23 1929.

3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June '13, 1924 INVENTOR.

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BY I

April 23, 1929. H. L. JOHNSTON APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FOOD STUFFS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13. L924 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS.

April 23, 1929. I H. L. JOHNSTON 1,709.912

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FOOD STUFFS Filed Jimel5, 1924 fs'sheets-sneet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 23, 19294 UNI-TED A -Es -PA E N1 oFF1-c1-:i.

HERBERT Ii. .iorrns'ron, or TROY; 01110, ASSIGNOR To THE HOBART MANUFACTURING 00., or TROY 'QI-IIO, .A CORPORATION or 01110.

ArrARATus Eon ou'r'rrne roonsrurrs.

" Application filed Jun e 13',

The present invention relatestoapparalms for cutting food stuffs; I Onev of the. principal obj cts of, the inVn-y. tion is to-provide such an apparatuses-a potato Islicer; orthe like,- havingQa nov elf construction, combination and arrangement of parts or. elements therein-,Iwhich" will be simple, reliableand'safe in operation, and which may be conveniently and economically -manuf 'actured. Further objects and advantages of the present inventionfwill be apparent from. the following description when taken 1 nconnection with the accompanying drawings 1n which j v.

Fig. 1 is a side elevationof the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional viewyon the. line 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a vertical line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. t is a perspective vlew of a clutch member forming part of the present lnverrtion' Fig. 5 is an elevation of the grid cutting. member employed in the present apparatus; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the l1 ne 6.6 of Fig. 7 of a grid made 1n two sections;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of same,- set to produce thin slices, the left side of the upper sectionbeing broken away in order to better show which blades belong-to the upper. section and which to the lower; and

Fig. 8gis anelvation of the same, set to. produce lozenge shaped pieces. I The invention is herein shown as embodied in a machine for cutting potatoes, but it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of other applications and 1s not confined to the embodiment illustrated.

Referring to the drawings, 2Q designates a gear case or housing containing drlving mechanism and on top of the gear case 20 sectional View on the there is mounted a trough 21 adapted to receive potatoes or other forms of food stuffs to be cut up. The trough is upwardly curved and is provided within the, forward end thereof with a grid-like cutting member 22 which is removably supported therein, the lower-portion of the cutting member lying in the groove-23 formed in the bottom and sides of the trough and the upper portion resting against the ring member 24 forming part of the trough. The cutting member may be readily removed from the trough for cleaning or for other purposes by simply 19221.. Serial No. 719,804.

lifting itv out of the trough; Pivotally securedto-thetrough as at 25 is a guard or cover 26-. which, when it is closed, forms or", 'enclosurewhich is adaptedto receive the {potatoesto' be cut-and to guide the'same during cutting. Access may be gained to the interiorof'theclosed chamber or enclosure fortherinsertion, of potatoes'by tilting the guard or cover 26'to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, a handle 27 being provided for this purpose. -'The -enclosure or trough as herein shown, is constructed te -receive and cut potatoes singly, but it will be understood lth'e apparatus is not limited to this gpartlcular construction, itbeing obvious that the trough and coordinating mechanism .-with the trouglr 21 a closed chambeflguide shown'at the left' .of Fig. 2, 'W-hichIare adapted for French frying. By varying the construction of the grid the potatoes may be cut into pieces of any desired size and form. At the conclusion of this forward movement, the pusher member is moved rearwardly to a position which will-permit the insertion of another potato. v The "trough" is provided with a drain passage or groove 29 which slopes downwardly from the right hand or rear portion of the trough to the forward end thereof whereby juices are discharged at the mouth 30. A=series of concentrically disposed ridges or, gripping devices 35- are formed on-the pushing surface-of pusher member .28 to prevent undesirable movement or slipping of the potato after] the pusher member has come into engagement- With it. The pusher member 28 is carriedby a crank arm 31 pivoted to the gearcase at 32. The crank arm extends upwardly along side the trough and is provided at its upper end with a horizontally extending mem-" ber or finger 33 which supports thep-usher member 28, both the member 33 and the pusher member 28 clearing all parts of the trough or enclosure and being out of contact therewith, asis shown clearly in Fig, 8. This manner of supporting the pusher member is such that the pusher member does not come in contact with the trough or enclosure or any guides therein and therefore cannot wear off the protectlvecoating ofsuch parts, such as tin or zinc, thereby causing the parts to corrode and stain the pota-.

toes or other food stuffs which are being cut. As best shown in Fig. 3, the cover 26 1s spaced at one side from the upper edgeof the trough21to provide a slot for the movement of the member 33, and the cover 26'is formed with a laterally and downwardly extending flange 34 which'overhangs and protects the crank arm from interference fronr above and also serves as a protection to the attendant who may be operating-the cover while the crank arm 1s in mot on.

The pusher member 28 is actuated by the mechanism which will now be described.

Driving shaft which is adapted to be rotated by any suitable or desired means is rotatably supported in bearings 51 and 52 in opposite walls of the gear case 20 as 55 carried by the carrier member 56 which is rotatably supported in bearing 57 from one wall of the gear case. The carrier .56 1s provided with a central bore or aperture 58 which provides a bearing for crank shaft 59 having at oneend thereof a disc 60 bearing against the bearing 5.7. Slidably mounted and keyed upon the other end of the crank shaft 59 is a clutch block or member 61 which is provided with four notches 62 adapted to engage the four pins 63 projecting from the carrier member 56. The clutch member 61 is normally held in clutching position with its notches 62 receiving the pins 63 by means of spring 6a which is tensioned by the adjustable collar 65 mounted onthe crank shaft 59. The gear case 20 is provided with a detachable cap or cover 66 by which access may be gained to the interior of the gear case for inspection or repair of the parts. A hearing 67 is also formed in the cap for one end of the crank shaft 59. The disc 60 on the end of the crank shaft 59 carries a crank pin 68 and a sliding block 69 which latter is adapted to slide in a yoke 70 formed in the lower portion of the crank arm 31.

' Upon rotation of the driving shaft 50,

. it will be apparent that power is transmitted through the worm 53 and ring gear 55 and carrier 56 to the clutch memberl61 which is keyed to the crank shaft 59. thereby causing rotation of the latter and a rocking 0r Fig. 2 forwardly towards the cutting member and then to return to its rearward pos tion is provided with means .,for preventing any-forward motion of the pusher member 28 while the cover 26 is raised so as to give access to the'interior of the enclosure formed by 'tl1e trough 21 andthe cover 26, thus-protecting the operator from possible injury. f A link i's'=pi-votally connected at .76 and 77 with the cover 26v and a plunger 78 respectively. The plunger 78 slides in the guide or boss 79 formed i'nz-the gear case cover66 and is adapted --to-. cooperate with cam slot SO formed in the peripheral surfaceof the clutch member' 61. As shown in Fig. 1 which indicates the relation of the plunger 79 and clutch member 61 dur-"- ing. the forward movement of the pusher member, the. plunger 78 is in engagement with the peripheral surface of the clutch;

the cam slot 80 is of some, length whichgives the operator ample time to raise the cover 26 on the return movement of the so v pusher member to insert another potato in the .trough', but should the cover 'be held open for too long a time, then the plunger 78 rides upon the inclined portion '81. of

the pusher member 28. The pusher member therefore comes to rest in its most rearward position, and forward movement of the pusher member cannot be resumed until the cover 26 is closed and the plunger 78 is withdrawn from the cam slot 80 so as toipermit the clutch member 61 to again come into engagement with the pins 63 of the carrier." It will be apparent from the foregoingthat the cam slot 80 and the cooperating members which are connected with the cover 26, constitute an interlock which positively prevents the lifting of the cover 26 to give access to the food-receiving trough or enclosure during the forward or cutting movement of the pusher member 28, and that thereafterthis same interlock prevents the application of power to give aforward movement of. the pusher member so long as the cover is raised.

w If'desired a retaining pin 85 may be inserted in the member 24 to prevent accidental lisplacement of the grid during oper flliegrid may be made in. a Variety of designs. One form shown in Fig. 6 consists of two duplicate parts, 90 and 91. These are fitted with'bla-des 92 and 93, equally spaced but so positioned with reference to the center of the grid that when thefsections are super-posed one above the other, the blades can be made to coincide or if one of the sections be revolved half way around they will take a position as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, wherein the bladesof one section are mid-way between those of-tlie other.. This setting produces thinner slices, double in number to those produced when the blades are set to coin-' cide.

If the grid sections are soset that the blades cross at 6Q the resulting shape will be like Fig. 8 which produces bars of lozenge-- shaped section.

By changing the arrangement of blades in the grid sections and setting them in dif-. fcrcnt relation to each other an almost unlimited variety of shapes can be obtained.

lVhile two sectionsare shown any number might. be employed without departing from'the spirit of the invention.

\Vhile the comer apparatus herein de-'. scribed constitutes aipreferred embodiment of the invention, it'is to be understood that the invention is not. limited to this-precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus of the character described 'adapted for cutting food stuffs, comprising 'a container adapted to receive food stuffs,

cover member for said container forming an enclosure therewith, said cover member -for cutting the food stuffs, said means inprising,

being .mountedfor movement to permit ac v cess to the interior of said container for supplying food stuffs thereto, means op erable within thecontainer for cutting the food stuffs, and means for preventing-the operation of the said cutting means while 55 said cover. member is in position to permit I member, and an interlock between the sald .cover portion and the actuating means so access to the interior of said container;

2: An apparatus of the character described adapted for cutting food stufis, comprising, an enclosure adapted to receive food stuffs, having a cover, portion movable to'a position permit-ting access to the interior thereof, means operable Within the enclosure cluding a reciprocable member, and means for preventing movement of said member in one direction while said cover portion is in position to PBIIIHtZLCCGSS to the interior thereof.

3.. An apparatus of the character de-- scribed adapted for cutting food stuffs, com? prising, an enclosure adapted to receive food stuffs, having a cover portion movable to-a position permitting accessto .the interior thereof, cutter and pusher members within the enclosure, a driving member, a driving connection between, the driving member and the pusher member, and means cooperating with the cover portion for interrupting said driving connection when said cover portion is in position to permit access to the interior of the enclosure.

4. An apparatus of the character described adapted for cutting foodstuffs, comprising, an enclosure adapted to receive food stuifs, a cover portion movable to a position permitting access to the interior thereof,

cutter and pushertmembers within the enclosure, a driving member, a driving connection between the drivlng member and the pusher member, adapted to move thepusher member forwardly towards the cutter mem her and rearwardly away from the cutter member, and an interlock between'the cover portion and ,the driving connection to ,prvent forward movement of the pusher-"momber while the cover portion is in position permitting access to the interior thereof.

5. An apparatus of the character dcf upon the clutch for controlling the connec-- tion between the drive shaft and the pusher member.

6. An apparatus of ,the character de scribed adapted for cutting food stuffs, comprising, an enclosure adapted to receive food stuffs, a'cover portion movable to a position permitting access to tl'reji nterior thereof, a cutter member, a pusher member adapted to move forwardly towards the cutter member or rearwardly away-- from the j cutter member, mea'ns' for actuating the Zpusher "constructed and arranged as to permit movement o'fsaid cover portidn only upon the rear-ward movement of the pusher member.

7. apparatus of the character described adapted for cutting food stuffs, com-- an enclosure adapted to receive food stuffs, having av cover portion movable to a position permitting access to the interior from the cuttermember, means for ac tuating the pusher member, and in interlock between the cover portion and the actuating means so constructed and arranged as to prevent movement of said cover por tion during cutting movement of the pusher member and preventing cutting movement of the pusher member by the actuating means while said cover portion is in open position to permit access to the enclosure.

. 8. An apparatus of the character described adapted for cutting food stuffs, comprising, an enclosure adapted to receive food stuffs, having a cover portion movable to a position permitting access to the interior thereof, a cutter member, a pusher member adapted to move forwardly towards the cutter member or rearwardly away from the cutter member, means for actuatingtlie pusher member, and an interlock between the movable part of the enclosure and the actuating means so stuffs, a cutter member,a pusher member and means foractuating said pusher member within the trough, through and out of contact therewith, said means including a driving member mountcdbelow the trough and havingadriving connection with said pusher member over the side of thetrough.

, 10. An apparatus of the character described, adapted for cutting food stuffs, comprising, a trough adapted to receive food stuffs, a cutter member, and a pusher memberadapted to push the foodstuffs along thetrough, and means for su} )p0rtil1g the pusher member out of contact with the trough and for actuating the same therein, said means including a movable arm supported outside the trough and extending laterally over the side of the trough, and means cooperating with the arm to actuate the same.

11. An apparatus of the character -de-- food stuffs, a cutter member, a pusher member 1n the trougl and means for supporting and actuating the pusher member, said one side thereof to provide a slot for the means including an upwardly extending rocking pivoted arm rigidly attached to a" laterally extending member secured to the pusher member,

13. An apparatus of the character described adapted for cutting food stuffs, comprising, a curved trough adapted to receive food stuffs, a cutter member, a pusher mem-, her in thetrough, and means for supporting and actuating the pusher member, said means including an upwardly extending pivoted arm having a laterally extending member secured to the pusher member, and a cover for the trough spaced therefrom at movement of the laterally extending finger.

14. An apparatusof the character described adapted for cutting food stuffs, comprising, a curved trough adapted to receive food stuffs, a cutter member, a pusher member in the trough, and means for supporting and actuating the pusher member, said means including an upwardly extending pivoted arm having a laterally extending member secured to the pusher member," and a cover for the troughspaced therefrom at one side thereof to provide a slot for the movement of the laterally extending finger, said cover having a laterally and downwardly extending flange to provide a guard at the upper edge of said slot.

An apparatus of the character vdescribed, adapted for cuttingfood stuffs, comprising, an upwardly curved 'trough, a. cutter membernear one end thereof, and a drain passage in the bottom of the trough sloping downwardly towards the cutter member. 4 1

16. Apparatus of the character described adapted. for cutting food stuffs, comprising, anenclosure adapted to receive food stuffs, having a cover portion movable to a position permitting access to the interior thereof, a cutter member and an abutment member within the enclosure mounted for relative movement one towards the other, a driving means, a driving connection between the driving means and one of said members, and means cooperating with the cover portion for interrupting said driving connection when said cover portion is in position to permit-access to the interior of the enclosure.

17. An apparatus of the character described adapted for cutting food stuffs, comprising, an enclosure adapted to receive food stuffs, having a cover portion movable to a position permitting access to the interior thereof, a cutter member and an abutment member within the enclosure mounted for relative movement one towards the other, means for actuating one of said members, means cooperating with the cover portion and the actuating means for preventing movement of said cover portion during 1'30 blades being so arranged on each section'as' to coincide in one setting thereof, and to be disposed intermediate and parallel 'to each other to thereby cut thinner slices in an op positesetting thereof, said sections being constructed to be supported with their blades at various angular relations with one an- 'other.

19. In apparatus of the character described, a cutter member comprising a symmetrical frame, and a plurality of parallel cutting blades carried thereby, said blades being unsymmetrically arranged with respect,

to the'center line of said frame, Whereby'said cutter member may be used in conjunction with another siuriarly shaped cutter member Ito 'obi'ain slices ofidifferentthickness.

Infltestimony whereo'l I hereto afiixi my signature.

' HERBERT L. JOHNSTON.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION r Patent No. 1,709,912

HERBERT I L.

Granted April 23, 1929,10

JOHNSTON.

lt is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 5, lines 9 and 10,-

claim 18, strike out the words "comprising a frame. each section" and insert tinsteadthecomma and words each section comprising a frame"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

i Signed and sealed this 28th day of May, A..D. 1929.

M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,709, 912. Granted April 23, 1929, to

HERBERT L. JOHNSTON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, lines 9 and 10,

ciaim 18, strike out the words "comprising a frame, each section" and insert instead the comma and words each section. comprising a frame"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of May, A. D. 1929.

M. J Moore,

'(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

